Tweet
I was in West Palm Beach today and on my way home I decied to do a little survey. I drove on Florida's turnpike from West Palm Beach to northern Broward county, roughly 40 minutes. The speed limie varies between 60 miles per hour (three mile construction zone) and the open highway is 65-70 miles per hour. I was averaging 10-15 miles per hour over the limit, conditions permitting.
During that time, I passed 32 cars that I could clearly see if they were talking on a cell phone or not.
Out of 32 drivers:
16 were talking on the cell phone. Meaning they were using one hand to hold the cell phone to their ear. I did not count people using headsets (you really can't tell if they're talking or not) or other hands-free (again, you can't tell that they're using it).
Out of those 16:
14 were in the far left (passing) lane. One was in the middle lane and one was in the right lane.
The one in the right lane was driving dangerously slow, over 20 miles per hour below the speed limit (roughly 40 in a 65-70 miles per hour zone).
Out of the 14 in the left lane, 13 were NOT passing anyone. Out of those 13, all of them could have moved over to another lane at one point. Not a single one out of the 13 moved over to let anyone pass.
1 was excessively speeding (obviously he was passing everyone).
2 almost caused an accident by trying to merge into another car (middle lane and one was in the left lane after I passed him).
5 in the left lane were weaving like a drunk driver.
Statistically, according to various police departments and AAA, about one out of four to one out of five drivers on a Friday evening (or weekend evening) are legally drunk. Which means, quite possibly I passed 3 or 4 drunk people talking on their cell phones. Can it get any more dangerous?
During that time, I passed 32 cars that I could clearly see if they were talking on a cell phone or not.
Out of 32 drivers:
16 were talking on the cell phone. Meaning they were using one hand to hold the cell phone to their ear. I did not count people using headsets (you really can't tell if they're talking or not) or other hands-free (again, you can't tell that they're using it).
Out of those 16:
14 were in the far left (passing) lane. One was in the middle lane and one was in the right lane.
The one in the right lane was driving dangerously slow, over 20 miles per hour below the speed limit (roughly 40 in a 65-70 miles per hour zone).
Out of the 14 in the left lane, 13 were NOT passing anyone. Out of those 13, all of them could have moved over to another lane at one point. Not a single one out of the 13 moved over to let anyone pass.
1 was excessively speeding (obviously he was passing everyone).
2 almost caused an accident by trying to merge into another car (middle lane and one was in the left lane after I passed him).
5 in the left lane were weaving like a drunk driver.
Statistically, according to various police departments and AAA, about one out of four to one out of five drivers on a Friday evening (or weekend evening) are legally drunk. Which means, quite possibly I passed 3 or 4 drunk people talking on their cell phones. Can it get any more dangerous?
Comment